Moxie Vino

What's the best wine under $20?

Catena Malbec is the best red under $20 at about $18, and Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc is the best white at about $16.

Somewhere between $15 and $20 is the sweet spot. You get wines with real character from producers with a track record, and you are still nowhere near fancy-restaurant prices. Every one of these is a bottle you can bring to a dinner party without a second thought.

Reds

  • 1. Catena Malbec

    about $18

    MalbecDrink this one

    Mountain-grown Argentine Malbec with dark fruit and a little violet. Feels like a $30 bottle, especially with steak.

  • 2. Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

    about $15

    Cabernet SauvignonGood buy

    Smooth, a little vanilla, nothing harsh. The Cabernet that converts people who are scared of Cabernet.

  • 3. Bread & Butter Pinot Noir

    about $16

    Pinot NoirGood buy

    Soft and fruity with a touch of toastiness. Easy with salmon, roast chicken or nothing at all.

Whites

Pink and bubbles

  • 6. Fleurs de Prairie Rosé

    about $16

    Grenache blendGood buy

    Pale, dry, Provence-style rosé in a pretty bottle. Tastes like the $25 ones.

  • 7. La Marca Prosecco

    about $16

    GleraGood buy

    Light, fruity, a little floral. The bubbly nobody needs convincing about, at brunch or on a Tuesday.

Good to know

This is the gift-bottle zone
Under $20 but over $15 looks generous without being showy. Any bottle on this list works as a hostess gift.
Pick the place, not just the grape
Malbec from Argentina, Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, rosé from Provence. Each region does that grape especially well at this price.
Let bigger reds breathe
Pour the Malbec or Cabernet 15 minutes before dinner. A little air softens the tannin (the drying, grippy feeling).
Sales are common
Grocery stores often discount these brands, especially if you buy six. Prices here are typical, not guaranteed.

More lists

Last checked 2026-10-04. Selection and prices vary by store and state.